The Dubai Media City was inaugurated Saturday, with the declared purpose of facilitating the networking of regional Arab talent and integrate it with the rest of the media world, reported the Gulf News daily.

Over 900 people from 50 firms will start working at the city on March 1st, said the daily.

They include representatives from broadcasting, production, music and multi-media services industries.

Crown Prince of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, said in the opening ceremony that the UAE is keen on making the complex an "arena for free-thinking talent."

"We want the city to contribute to creating a media message that is aware of its reality and is open to the future," he stated.

"We want it to be a place where the media in the region and around the globe will bring their productive and creative talent home."

He said the media complex would play an integral role in the global digital infrastructure, added the daily.

"The city will provide for its community the opportunity to embrace all that is new in the media industry at the right moment in time, and therefore, the pioneers of this city will possess the tools that will allow them to convey their message, and to achieve their tasks to world class standards," he said.

Meanwhile, Emirates Media Corp has been granted land at Dubai Media City for a project that covers printing, broadcasting and television, said the daily.

The land will also house a media institute aimed at training UAE citizens.

The Dubai Media City, said the paper, has a waiting list of 65 companies planning to move in -- Albawaba.com